Builders, like Dave Lee, are being pushed to the brink by harsh physical and emotional working conditions

Disturbingly, suicide is a problem rife within the construction industry.

A quarter of builders have admitted to having had suicidal thoughts and the male suicide rate among builders in England is three times higher than any other profession, according to figures from Public Health England.

Between 2010 and 2015 there were 1,419 suicides in the construction and building trades - 1,409 of them men.

Here, as part of The Sun's You're Not Alone suicide prevention campaign - which is calling on readers to know the signs to look out for in themselves and others - we tell the stories of three people whose lives have been changed forever by the pressures of the building industry.

'The expression "man up" is so awful when you feel so desperate'

Trade worker Jordan Bibby was just 25 years old when he took his own life.

Tragically, no one knew the popular painter and decorator, described as “so loving and fearless and full of life” by his family, had been struggling before his death.

Jordan Bibby, 25, killed himself in September 2017. His mum believes he feared speaking out in case he was perceived as weak

Why it's up to all of us to reduce deaths by suicide

For Jordan, a career within the construction industry had been his dream and he started working for a big company straight from school, aged 16.

His mum Melanie Cheatle says: “Jordan was always active, and outdoorsy so going into construction was what he wanted to do.

"When he was younger he wouldn’t sit in and play computer games, he’d prefer to be out, fishing, playing football or climbing trees.

"He was really hardworking, and good at what he did.”

YOU'RE NOT ALONE

EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost - to suicide.

It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society - from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.

It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes. And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.

Yet, it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.

That is why The Sun has launched the You're Not Alone campaign. To remind anyone facing a tough time, grappling with mental illness or feeling like there's nowhere left to turn, that there is hope.

To mark World Suicide Prevention Day, over the course of this week, we will tell you the stories of brave survivors, relatives left behind, heroic Good Samaritans - and share tips from mental health experts.

The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.

Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others.

You're Not Alone.

For a list of support services available, see the Where To Get Help box lower down in the article.

However, with no warning signs to his family and friends, Jordan killed himself on September 13, 2017.

Melanie says: “On the Monday evening we were chatting and joking and Jordan said he was planning on buying me a Pandora charm for my birthday.

"I told him not to spend his money on me, but he was adamant and said he was going to town the next day.

Flowers were laid at the funeral of Manchester United fan Jordan Bibby by his amily, who are calling for builders to speak up about their mental health

Melanie, who is also mum to Ben, 28, and Luke, 12, believes builders often think they’ll be teased, or seen as weak and given less responsibility if they speak out.

“Martin - Jordan’s stepdad - is also a builder and he understood why Jordan couldn’t speak up at work, but we didn’t understand why he wouldn’t speak to us.

"The expression ‘man up’ literally makes me fill up with tears because it’s just awful to have to hear that when you feel so desperate inside that there’s no other option than to take your life," she says.

A LASTING LEGACY: JORDAN'S CONVERSATION

Jordan Bibby's mum Melanie Cheatle is now working with her son’s former construction company Seddon on a mental health awareness initiative called Jordan’s Conversation, alongside Mates In Mind, a charity committed to improving mental wellbeing in the construction industry.

So far more than 300 workers have taken part in mental health awareness workshops.

Melanie says: “Companies need to start talking more openly. If a guy broke a leg, he wouldn’t be expected to just walk it off - we can get rid of the stigma that comes with mental health issues so people suffering feel they can share it.

"I don’t want anyone to ever feel like Jordan must have felt, like they couldn’t carry on."

'My Dave the Rage nickname was seen as a good thing - not a warning sign'

Groundwork supervisor Dave Lee, 49, from Newhaven, East Sussex, has worked in construction for 18 years and also knows how difficult it is to seek help.

Dave turned to drink to numb his feelings and at his lowest ebb came close to ending his own life.

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Josephine, whose stepfather killed himself, adds: “While it’s not the cause of the problem, the work environment can be a trigger and has made me feel like I’ve been unable to cope at times in the past when I’ve been at breaking point already.

"I’ve experienced suicidal thoughts, but having a parent who did die by suicide, whenever I’ve reached that dark place I’ve reminded myself how much heartache it causes.”